Concussion Quiz for Parents

Published 09/26 2012 06:10PM

Updated 09/26 2012 07:00PM

THEY'RE BACK IN FULL SWING... BUT IT'S NOT ALL FUN AND GAMES. THIS YEAR THREE AND A HALF MILLION KIDS PLAYING FOOTBALL AND OTHER SPORTS WILL BE TREATED FOR A SPORTS INJURY. MANY WILL SUFFER THEIR FIRST OR A REPEAT CONCUSSION. TONIGHT'S HEALTHCAST HAS MORE ON WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW TO KEEP THEIR KIDS SAFE AFTER BRAIN INJURIES.THEY HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND AT ALL LEVELS. BUT IT HIT MASON SMITH BY COMPLETE SURPRISE. "I remember playing but I woke up in the hospital." THE 14 YEAR OLD TRI-ATHLETE GOT HIS FIRST CONCUSSION DURING A PICK UP GAME OF BASKETBALL."He kept asking the same questions over and over again and it really alarmed me as a parent because he never had a concussion and I would've never have known that that was one of the things that happens." A RECENT SURVEY SHOWS MANY PARENTS DON'T RECOGNIZE THE RED FLAGS. ONLY EIGHT PERCENT KNOW THE RISKS OF REPEATED BRAIN INJURIES. "That actually can be a catastrophic problem if someone actually reinjures their brain before it's fully healed." SO WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF GETTING BACK IN THE GAME TOO SOON? WORSENED SYMPTOMS, LONGER RECOVERY OR DEATH. THE ANSWER? ALL THREE! YOUNG ATHLETES ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF SECOND IMPACT SYNDROME "While their still recovering from their first can develop massive swelling in their brain and they can die."NEXT CAN YOUR DIET HELP SPEED UP RECOVERY? STUDIES SHOW OMEGA 3'S CAN HELP DECREASE NERVE CELL DAMAGE AND "CREATINE" FOUND IN MEAT MAY ALSO HELP. CAN MOUTHGUARDS AND HIGH-TECH HELMETS PREVENT A CONCUSSION? WHILE THEY PROVIDE PROTECTION SOME BELIEVE THEY'RE MORE OF HAIL MARY. BEFORE HITTING THE FIELD, YOUR FOOTBALL PLAYERS SHOULD DO A HELMET CHECK FOR LOOSE ATTACHMENTS, BROKEN WELDS AND CRACKS IN THE TEMPORAL AREA. WHILE KNOWING WHAT TO LOOK FOR IS KEY, DOCTOR MARK HALSTEAD SAYS WHEN IN DOUBT, SIT THEM OUT. "It's better to miss one game than miss the season." HELP YOUR KIDS PLAY IT SAFE AND SMART.ANOTHER ONE? HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WAKE A KID UP WHO'S JUST HAD A CONCUSSION? WHILE THE TRADITIONAL RULE HAS BEEN TO WAKE UP THE ATHLETE EVERY THREE TO FOUR HOURS DURING THE NIGHT, DOCTOR HALSTEAD SAYS THE BEST THING FOR THE BRAIN AFTER A CONCUSSION IS REST. MASON SLEPT 44 OUT THE 48 HOURS FOLLOWING HIS CONCUSSION.

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